WHEN: Today, Thursday, August 27th
WHERE: CNBC's "Squawk Box"
Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on CNBC's "Squawk Box" (M-F, 6AM-9AM ET) today. Following are links to the interview on CNBC.com: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000411976, http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000411977 and http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000411978.
All references must be sourced to CNBC.
KERNEN: ALL RIGHT. WE ARE EXCITED TO GET TO OUR NEWSMAKER OF THE MORNING, NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE IS HERE JOINING US ON SET. GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
CHRISTIE: HAPPY TO BE BACK.
KERNEN: GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, IT'S RNC CHAIRMAN REINCE PRIEBUS? IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT?
CHRISTIE: CORRECT.
KERNEN: HE THE SAID REPUBLICANS LAST TIME LEARNED ABOUT INTERNESSING BATTLES AND IT'S GOING TO BE A KINDER, GENTLER PRIMARY SEASON THIS TIME AROUND. WHAT HAPPENED? SOMETHING WENT WRONG. DOES IT BEGIN WITH A "T"?
CHRISTIE: WELL 17 PEOPLE DECIDED TO RUN. LET'S START WITH THAT. I MEAN IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE A CALM PROCESS WITH 17 PEOPLE RUNNING. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS NOT BAD. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD OVERREACT NOW. WHAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE TALKING ABOUT AND CONCERNED ABOUT ARE THE THINGS I'M HEARING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHEN I HAVE DONE 18 TOWN HALLS NOW. I MEAN THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT TERRORISM, STUDENT DEBT, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ECONOMY AND JOBS AND SO THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT. ALL THIS BACK AND FORTH AMONGST THE CANDIDATES, IT WILL ALL SETTLE ITSELF OUT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ELECTIONS.
KERNEN: THERE'S ALOT OF TIMES WHEN I ADMIT I'M A LITTLE BIT OLDER AND I LOOK AROUND AND I THINK THE END OF CIVILIZATION IS COMING BECAUSE OF WHAT I AM SEEING WHETHER ITS TIMES WHATEVER IT IS BUT SOCIAL MEDIA, I POINT TO IT AS A PROBLEM IN EXACERBATING A LOT OF THINGS THAT HUMAN NATURE USED TO HAVE UNDER CONTROL A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND CAN'T HELP BUT THINK AND MAYBE CELEBRITY WORSHIP AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THIS IS LIKE A CIRCUS. I SAID THE REST OF THE WORLD MIGHT BE LAUGHING AT US. AND THEN I THINK LOOK AT THEIR POLITICAL PROCESS. HALF THESE PLACES THEY HAVE 12 DIFFERENT PARTIES, FORM THESE COALITIONS. THEY'RE NO BETTER AND BUT NOW WE'VE JOINED THEM SORT OF IN THE MUCK. THIS IS JUST IT DOESN'T MAKE ME PROUD TO WATCH SOME OF THE STUFF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND FOCUSED ON.
CHRISTIE: THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IS EACH ONE OF US AS CANDIDATES. IT IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, WHAT WE FOCUS ON, WHAT WE EMPHASIZE.
KERNEN: BUT YOU HAVE TO GET TRACTION. THAT'S THE PROBLEM IF YOU FOCUSED JUST ON SUBSTANCE AND ON ISSUES, YOU MAY END UP NOT BEING NOTICED AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD BE IF YOU FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF.
CHRISTIE: I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD A PERSONALITY PROBLEM.
KERNEN: NO.
CHRISTIE: RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT THE FACT IS THAT, YOU'LL BE NOTICED OVER TIME. BUT LET'S REMEMBER SOMETHING. IT'S AUGUST. THERE'S LOTS OF TIME TO GO HERE IN TERMS OF A CAMPAIGN. CAMPAIGNS MATTER. AND THEY MATTER IF YOU'RE COMMUNICATING IDEAS, IF YOU'RE COMMUNICATION A VISION AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE. THAT'S THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. EVERY CAMPAIGN HAS DIFFERENT PHASES TO IT. REMEMBER SOMETHING. FOUR YEARS AGO HERMAN CAIN WAS AT 30% RIGHT NOW. HERMAN CAIN WAS AT 30%. SO --
KERNEN: ARE YOU STILL FRIENDS WITH DONALD TRUMP?
CHRISTIE: YEAH.
KERNEN: I AM, AS WELL. I WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON. HE REALLY DOES WANT -- I USED TO THINK MAYBE HE ENJOYED THE WHOLE PROCESS. IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO BE LEADING THE RNC BUT THEN I THOUGHT MAYBE HE WANTS TO GO BACK AND BE A BUILDER AND BE DONALD TRUMP AGAIN. I THINK HE REALLY IN WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING I THINK HE REALLY DOES NOW WANT TO WIN THE NOMINATION AND WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. I DON'T THINK HE IS ANY LONGER JUST --
CHRISTIE: I HAVE NO IDEA. YOU KNOW? YOU HAVE TO ASK DONALD. I MEAN --
KERNEN: WE WILL.
CHRISTIE: I'M IN THE RACE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND BECAUSE I WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE NEED FIXED AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT OUTSIDERS. YOU UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY. I'M A REPUBLICAN IN NEW JERSEY. THIS MEANS I WAKE UP MORNING AS AN OUTSIDER. AND HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURES AND ENTRENCHED SPECIAL INTERESTS LIKE TEACHERS UNION AND ALL THE REST. WHAT PEOPLE WANT IS SOMEONE TO GO DOWN TO WASHINGTON AND ACTUALLY FIX THIS PROBLEM. AND I THINK WHAT DONALD HAS TAPPED INTO IS THAT FRUSTRATION AND ANGER OVER THE INEFFECTIVENESS AND THE INEFFICIENCY OF GOVERNMENT. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET SOMEBODY WHO ACTUALLY HAS SHOWN A RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO FIX THAT.
SORKIN: SO JUST WALK US THROUGH THE PATH. FOR YOU. PATH TO COMPLETION. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN? I SAY THAT BY THE WAY I THE CONTEXT OF I THINK JUST THIS WEEK THERE WAS A SUPERPAC THAT WAS AGAINST YOU SAID THEY DROPPED -- THEY HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT YOUR POLL NUMBERS WEREN'T HIGH ENOUGH AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A REASON FOR BEING.
CHRISTIE: WELL ANDREW THEY NEVER WERE IN BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY RAISED A TOTAL OF $1,300 IN THEIR ENTIRE EXISTANCE. THAT'S A REAL GROUND SWELL OF SUPPORT FOR AN ANTI CHRIS CHRISTIE PAC. TO RAISE $1,300 AND THEY SPENT 3 AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I KIND OF THINK IT WAS REALLY JUST A PRESS RELEASE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. BUT HERE'S THE PATH. THE PATH IS SAME FOR ME AS ANYBODY ELSE, WHETHER YOU'RE ME OR WHETHER YOU'RE SCOTT WALKER OR MARCO RUBIO NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU GOT TO DO WELL IN ONE OF THE FIRST THREE STATES. IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU HAVE TO DO WELL IF YOU DON'T DO WELL YOU CAN'T CONTINUE IN A RACE OF 17 PEOPLE. SO MY PATH IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S AND THE WAY I'M DOING THIS IS TO DG OUT AND DO WHAT I DID IN NEW JERSEY AND HAVE DONE IN NEW JERSEY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. HOLDING MORE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAN ANYBODY ELSE. MEETING VOTERS ONE ON ONE. LETTING THEM GET TO KNOW ME, LETTHING THEM ASK ME QUESTIONS AND GIVING THEM DIRECT ANSWERS AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO MATTER ULTIMATELY. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR AND ARE YOU WILLING TO INTERACT WITH THEM PERSONALLY. NOT JUST HOVER OVER THEM AND WAVE TO THEM BUT SHAKE THEIR HAND, LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND ANSWER THEIR QUESTION. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING AND THAT'S THE PATHWAY TO WINNING.
KERNEN: GOVERNOR, THESE RED MEAT ISSUES AT BOTH SIDES SEEM TO FOCUS ON, HERE WE ARE IN THE SIXTH, SEVENTH YEAR OF A RECOVERY, 3.7% NUMBER, I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S AN OUTLIER OBVIOUSLY.
CHRISTIE: TOTALLY.
KERNEN: I WISH IT WAS REAL BUT THE FACT IS THAT IT'S BEEN 2% OR LESS FOR 7 YEARS. SO THE REPUBLICANS SUPPOSEDLY KNOW HOW TO GENERATE PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH AND IF I WERE A REPUBLICAN, THAT'S ALL I WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT. BUT INSTEAD, WE'RE -- WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF CRAZY REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT CRAZY STUFF. I DON'T KNOW HOW -- THERE'S NO WAY TO PUT THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE AWAY TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE FRONT AND CENTER BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH PLAY. NOW THAT THE LEFT HAS OTHER THINGS THEY LIKE TO FOCUS ON BUT THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT, PROSPERITY WHCIH NARROWS THE INCOME DISPARITY WHICH ALLOWS US TO PAY OFF ALL OUR ENTITLEMENTS EASIER IT'S WHAT MADE AMERICA GREAT. PRIVATE SECTOR PROSPERITY THAT'S ALL WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.
CHRISTIE: YOU KNOW, JOE, MY FIRST TWO SPEECHES ON THIS WERE ON ENTITLEMENT REFORM. I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT TALKED ENTITLEMENT REFORM SO FAR IN ANY DETAIL WITH ANY KIND OF SPECIFIC PLAN. SECOND WAS, YOU KNOW, A REGULARITY TAX REFORM SPEECH WITH REAL DETAILS ON HOW TO CHANGE OUR TAX SYSTEM AND CHANGE OUR REGULATORY SYSTEM. SO WE -- THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT EVENTUALLY WILL COME AROUND TO THAT. WHEN PEOPLE REALLY FOCUS ON IT. BECAUSAE I COULD TELL YOU IN NEW HAMPSHIRE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT, WHAT THEY ASK ME ABOUT IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO GROW THE ECONOMY, HOW WILL I TAKE CARE OF MY KID'S STUDENT DEBT AND HOW DO THEY LIVE AFTER THIS IF THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB TO PAY OFF THE DEBT? AND ALSO AWFULLY CONCERNED ABOUT TERRORISM AND ABOUT PRESERVING THEIR LIVES IN THIS COUNTRY, NOT ONLY THE WAY OF LIFE BUT THEY'RE ACTUAL LIFE. WE'LL GET THE THOSE SUBJECTS. WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO.
EISEN: I HAVE A QUESTION ON MARKETS RELATED TO THE ECONOMY. WE HAVE SEEN THESE CRAZY SWINGS AND THIS IS A --
KERNEN: A BOTTOM YET?
EISEN: HISTORIC WEEK IN THE MARKETS AND I THINK I READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOU SAID THAT IT WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DEALING WITH CHINA AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, YOU BLAMED HIM. BUT THE STOCK MARKET IS UP 140% SINCE PRESIDENT OBAMA TOOK OFFICE. SO SHOULD HE GET CREDIT FOR THAT?
CHRISTIE: WELL LISTEN. A PRESIDENT GETS CREDIT AND BLAME FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON HIS WATCH. OKAY? SO THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES. BARACK OBAMA CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR MAKING THE RICH IN THIS COUNTRY RICHER. HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT. THE GUY WHO CLAIMS TO CARE ABOUT INCOME INEQUALITY HAS MADE INCOME INWQUALITY WORSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY CAUSE HE HAS PLAYED TO THE INVESTOR CLASS AND TO MAKE RICH PEOPLE RICHER. HERE'S THE PROBLEM. MIDDLE CLASS WAGES ARE STAGNANT FOR 15 YEARS AND IN FACT THEY'RE BEHIND THE RATE OF INFLATION AND WHAT I SAID ABOUT CHINA THAT DAY IS THIS. THE REASON WE'RE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHANGES IN THE CHINESE ECONOMY IS BECAUSE THE CHINESE HAVE LENT US SO MUCH MONEY AND HAVE SO MUCH OF OUR DEBT. IF CHINA GETS A COUGH WE GET THE FLU. BECAUSE THIS PRESIDENT'S RUN UP MORE DEBT THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. SO SPECIFICALLY, WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THAT IN THIS CURRENT MOMENT OF CRISIS, ON THE MARKETS, IT'S ABOUT CHINESE DEBT, PEOPLE IN CHINA OWNING SO MUCH OF OUR DEBT THAT WE'VE BECOME SO MUCH MORE DEPENDENT ON THEM AS AN ECONOMY.
EISEN: DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD WE BE LESS INTERCONNECTED WITH CHINA AND THE CHINESE ECONOMY?
CHRISTIE: NO. I THINK WE SHOULD BE BORROWING LESS MONEY FROM CHINA. I THINK WE SHOULD GET OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER. I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE GOVERNMENT SMALLER AND STOP SPENDING SO MUCH. AND JOE'S RIGHT, IF WE GREW THE ECONOMY AT 4% RATHER THAN 2% WE'D HAVE TO – WE'D BE ABLE TO BORROW A LOT LESS MONEY FROM CHINA.
KERNEN: HAVE YOU SEEN THE LEFT, JEB IS ALSO TALKING 4%. THE LEFT LOVES TO LAUGH ABOUT THAT. THEY WALLOW IN THE NOTION THAT 2% IS OUR MAXIMUM GROWTH NOW, WHICH IS PROBABLY TRUE IN A EUROPEAN EGALITARIAN SOCIETY WHERE EVERYBODY DOES THE SAME AND EVERYTHING'S ALL EVEN AND EQUAL. NO ONE'S TOO WELL, NO ONE'S DOING TOO BADLY. 2% WE SHOULD BE SATISFIED.
CHRISTIE: LET'S ASK BILL CLINTON IF HE THINKS 4% IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT, TOO. AND MAYBE HIS WIFE DOESN'T HAVE THAT OPTIMISM ABOUT AMERICA BUT I DO. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS. THE PROBLEM IS THE GOVERNMENT HAS SQUASHED THE INGENUITY AND THE ENERGY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BY THE BIGGEST REGULATORY SCHEME WE HAVE EVER SEEN. LAST YEAR JOE, 81,000 PAGES OF NEW FEDERAL REGULATION BY THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE MOST EVER. AND NOW, HIS OWN SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT COSTS $10,000 PER EMPLOYEE FOR SMALL BUSINESS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATION. AWFUL. IT'S CRAZY.
SORKIN: GOVERNOR, SPEAK TO THIS IF YOU COULD. TALKING ABOUT TAXES, YOU DO HAVE A TAX PLAN. DONALD TRUMP JUST SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE WOULD GET RID OF CARRIED INTEREST. YOUR TAKE? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
CHRISTIE: LISTEN, I PUT OUT MY PLAN. AND MY PLAN IS TO GET RID OF EVERY DEDUCTION OR LOOPHOLE EXCEPT FOR THE HOME MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION OR THE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION DEDCUTION. THAT ALLOWS YOU TO LOWER RATES TO 28% ON THE TOP END, 8% ON THE LOW END AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE. YOU CAN DO YOUR TAXES IN 15 MINUTES FOR MOST AMERICANS THEN AND YOU GET TO KEEP MORE OF YOUR MONEY. NOW, THE RICH AREN'T GOING TO LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO BENEFIT FROM THESE LOOPHOLES AND THESE DEDUCTIONS. MOST AMERICANS USE THE STANDARD DEDUCTION. THEY DON'T USE THESE SPECIAL DEDUCTIONS. LET'S GET RID OF THEM. YOU KNOW WHY PEOPLE HATE THE IRS? DON'T WANT TO PAY THEIR TAXES? BECAUSE THEY THINK THE TAX SYSTEM IS RIGGED FOR THE RICH. AND YOU KNOW WHY THEY THINK THAT? BECAUSE IT IS. IT'S RIGGED FOR THE RICH. AND SO, LET'S MAKE IT SIMPLE, LET'S MAKE IT EASY, AND LET'S MAKE EVERYBODY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IF COMBINED WITH A REGULATORY REFORM THAT LETS BUSINESS MAKE THE DECISIONS AND NOT WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS.
KERNEN: DO YOU THINK, AND AGAIN, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. IT'S RICH AGAINST POOR. HESITATE TO SAY IT, THERE'S A LOT OF DIVISIVENESS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO WE NEED IN THE NEXT PRESIDENT? SHOULD YOU – LET'S SAY THAT THERE'S STILL A FEW DEMOCRATS LEFT IN CONGRESS WHICH THERE WILL BE. WILL YOU DO AN INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL? WILL YOU BUILD SOME ROADS? WILL YOU DO ANY PUBLIC WORKS? ANY EDUCATION THAT INVOLVES GOVERNMENT SPENDING? OR WILL IT BE MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY AS IT IS RIGHT NOW?
CHRISTIE: JOE, LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN NEW JERSEY. I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING WITH A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE AND HAVE FOR EVERY DAY THAT I'VE BEEN GOVERNOR. YET, WE'VE CONTROLLED THE BUDGET IN NEW JERSEY. WE SPENT $2.5 BILLION LESS TODAY THAN WE DID EIGHT YEARS AGO. WE HAVE 9,500 FEWER EMPLOYEES. WE REFORMED TENURE. WE REFORMED THE PENSION AND BENEFITS SYSTEM. WE HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE MAKE SURE THAT BUSINESS GETS TAX CUTS OF $2.3 BILLION. ALL WITH A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE. IT CAN BE DONE. AND YOU CAN REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU'RE STRONG AND WHAT YOU WILL COMPROMISE ON AND WHAT YOU WON'T. AND THEY ALSO NEED TO GET TO KNOW YOU. ONE OF THE DISGRACES OF THIS PRESIDENT IS WHEN I READ A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME JOHN BOEHNER HAD EVER BEEN ON AIR FORCE ONE. AND THIS GUY IS THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE HOUSE FOR YOUR ENTIRE PRESIDENCY. YOU'VE NEVRE HAD HIM ON AIR FORCE ONE? LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN I'M PRESIDENT, YOU WANT TO COME ON AIR FORCE ONE, YOU WANT TO COME TO CAMP DAVID, YOU WANT TO COME TO THE OVAL OFFICE? COME.
KERNEN: THE PRESIDENT HASN'T VISITED A LOT OF HIS OWN MEMBERS IN CONGRESS MUCH LESS MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY.
CHRISTIE: WELL THAT IS THE POINT. DIVISIVENESS. AND THEN THE PRESIDENT COMPARES THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO THE PROTESTERS IN IRAN CHANTING DEATH TO AMERICA. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY AMERICA'S DIVIDED? BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIVISIVE LEADER WHO BELIEVES THAT HE IS RIGHT ALL THE TIME WITHOUT EXCEPTION. LOOK AT THIS IRAN DEAL, JOE. IT IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS A PRESIDENT HAS EVER FOISTED UPON A COUNTRY. SECRET DEALS THAT HE WON'T TELL ANYBODY THE CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT. KNOW WHAT MY BOTTOM LINE IS? I TRUST THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MORE THAN I CAN TRUST VOTES AT THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL. AND THIS PRESIDENT, THIS PRESIDENT IS NOW CAREENING US TOWARDS A COUNTRY LIKE IRAN HAVING A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
KERNEN: HE IS GETTING AND HE IS LINING UP DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT, BUT NOT PUBLIC SUPPORT. IT'S NOT JUST A PLURALITY NOW. I MEAN, IT IS A STRONG MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC IS AGAINST.
CHRISTIE: YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO USE COMMON SENSE. HOW CAN YOU LET – WE ARE GOING TO LET THE IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD INSPECT IRANIAN MILITARY SITES AND TELL US WHETHER THEY ARE CHEATING? THIS IS THE REGIME THAT HAS BEEN CHEATING FOR 12 YEARS ON THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM, AND THE SAME REGIME THAT HAS BEEN CHANTING DEATH TO AMERICA SINCE 1979. WHY THE HECK DO WE THINK THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR STRIPES?
EISEN: WHAT DO YOU PREDICT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE?
CHRISTIE: WELL LISTEN, I DON'T KNOW. I AM OUT THERE REALLY HARD AND STRONG WITH JEWISH LEADERS IN OUR STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY SAYING THIS IS WRONG AND IT NEEDS TO BE REJECTED. BUT THE PRESIDENT – YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER SECRET DEALS I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT? I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT SECRET DEALS HE IS OFFERING TO THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ARE SAYING THEY ARE VOTING YES. BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE LATER. YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW SAYING THEY VOTED YES, GIVEN THEIR PAST HISTORY ON ISRAEL, HOW MUCH PORK IS HE OFFERING THEM OUT OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET? AND HOW ABOUT, I DON'T ONLY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SECRET DEALS WITH IRAN, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SECRET DEALS WITH MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IN CONGRESS WHO ARE CAVING AND PUTTING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK.
SORKIN: GOVERNOR, I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO A DOMESTIC ISSUE, THIS TERRIBLE TRAGIC SHOOTING YESTERDAY OF THIS REPORTER AND CAMERAMAN. CLEARLY, A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE BUT CREATED A DEBATE ABOUT GUN CONTROL AGAIN. I'M CURIOUS IF THIS HAS HAD ANY EFFECT ON YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT?
CHRISTIE: NO. EXCEPT THAT I AM INCREDIBLY SAD FOR THOSE FAMILIES. AND IT IS TERRIBLE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM. AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU THINK TO YOURSELF THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I. AND SO YOU FEEL FOR THE FAMILIES. BUT LET'S JUST ENFORCE THE LAWS WE HAVE ALREADY, ANDREW. LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT MAKING MORE LAWS. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. LET'S ENFORCE THE LAWS. I WAS A PROSECUTOR FOR SEVEN YEARS AS THE U.S. ATTORNEY. WE STRICTLY ENFORCED THE GUN LAWS IN NEW JERSEY. THE FEDERAL GUN LAWS. FELONS IN POSSESSION OF WEAPONS. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE COMMITTING CRIMES.
SORKIN: HOW DO WE KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?
CHRISTIE: LET ME TELL YOU, I PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL THAT THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE IN NEW JERSEY WON'T ADOPT. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE AND IT DOESN'T MAKE HEADLINES. I SAY WE HAVE TO GIVE DOCTORS MORE AUTHORITY TO INVOLUNTARILY COMMIT PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT COMMITTING VIOLENT ACTS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO REVIEW. THESE ARE ALL COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT AND THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS THAT ARE READY TO BE EXECUTED ON. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT DOESN'T MAKE A HEADLINE FOR LEFT WING LIBERAL OUTLETS WHO THINK THAT THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS JUST TAKE MORE GUNS AWAY FROM LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.
KERNEN: ANDREW, NINE MONTHS FOR ME TO FINALLY BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE A FIREARM. NINE MONTHS. MILLBURN HAD TO LOOK AT ME. THE STATE HAD TO LOOK AT ME. THE COUNTY HAD TO LOOK AT ME. I COULD HAVE GONE TO WASHINGTON HEIGHTS THAT AFTERNOON IF I GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
CHRISTIE: IF YOU WANTED TO BE A CRIMINAL.
KERNEN: IF I WANTED TO BE A CRIMINAL, I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A GUN THAT AFTERNOON. SO FIGURE THAT OUT.
CHRISTIE: AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM. AND THEY WANT MORE LAWS TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR GUYS LIKE HIM TO BUY GUNS.
KERNEN: NINE MONTHS. AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. THIS IS IN A SAFE. IT'S GOT ONLY A FINGERPRINT OPENS IT UP. THERE'S NO WAY TO GET AT IT.
SORKIN: YOU KNOW ME. I'M SCARED OF GUNS IN ALL CONTEXT.
KERNEN: I KNOW. DON'T BE AFRAID ANDREW.
CHRISTIE: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M MORE SCARED OF, I'M MORE SCARED OF CRIMINALS THAN I AM OF GUNS.
KERNEN: RIGHT. YOU WON'T BE SCARED – IF THERE IS A CRIMINAL AROUND OR A BAD GUY AND ONE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAS A GUN, YOU'LL LIKE THE GUN. YOU WON'T BE NEARLY AS AFRAID OF THE GUN.
EISEN: TO JOE'S POINT, I MEAN IT DOES EXPOSE A DARK SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.
CHRISTIE: WELL, SURE. LISTEN, BUT THAT DARK SIDE IS PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT TO BLAME THE MEDIUM. IT IS NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE REALLY DEEPLY DISTURBED CRIMINALS BEFORE TWITTER OR BEFORE FACEBOOK. I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SO FRUSTRATED ABOUT IS THAT THERE IS NO SENSE WITH OUR POLITICIANS OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THAT THERE IS PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CONDUCT. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO BLAME TWITTER OR WE'RE GOING TO BLAME FACEBOOK. WELL HECK, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS, THE STUFF WE PUT ON IT. THE STUFF WE PUT ON IT IS THE PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHO DOES THAT? SOMEONE WHO TAKES THEIR DEVICE OUT AND TYPES IT IN. IT DOESN'T GET THERE BY ITSELF. THAT'S WHY FOLKS ARE FRUSTRATED. BECAUSE THEY THINK POLITICIANS DON'T TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU HAVE HILLARY CLINTON SAYING THE LAW DOESN'T APPLY TO HER. IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ME. SHE MAKES JOKES ABOUT IT. CAN YOU IMAGINE? SHE SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
KERNEN: SO THEY DIDN'T WORK AND NOW, SHE SAYS, IT WAS CLEARLY THE WRONG CHOICE. SHE MADE A COUPLE OF JOKES. THE WIPING IT CLEAN AND THE I LOVE SNAP CHAT.
CHRISTIE: YEAH, BECAUSE IT ELIMINATES IT BY ITSELF. SHE THINKS THIS IS FUNNY. BUT MEANWHILE, THE TOP DIPLOMAT IN AMERICA WAS DOING ALL OF HER BUSINESS ON A PRIVATE SERVER THAT SHE HID IN HER BASEMENT SO THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE COULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT SHE WAS DOING. DO YOU THINK SHE WIPED THAT THING CLEAN BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ON THERE THAT INCRIMINATES HER? I MEAN THE REASON SHE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO DO THAT KIND OF STUFF, OBSTRUCK JUSTICE AND WHO MISHANDLE SENSITIVE, CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND SHOULD BE PROSECUTED. IF THIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROSECUTED DAVID PETRAEUS AND PREVIOUS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROSECUTED SANDY BURGER, YOU BETTER BE SURE THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTING HILLARY CLINTON. AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SHE WORKED FOR HIM. HE SHOULD HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD GO OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT MADAM SECRETARY? REVEAL ALL THE INFORMATION BECAUSE IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO MY ADMINISTRATION THAT YOU ARE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH THE AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECRETS AND AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY. AND WHO KNOWS WHO GOT ACCESS TO THAT PRIVATE SERVER JOE AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS ON THERE. IT PUTS OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK. SHE OWES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MORE THAN THAT AND WHAT SHE REALLY SHOULD DO IS GET OUT OF THE RACE.
KERNEN: GOVERNOR, THANKS FOR COMING. DON'T BE A STRANGER.
CHRISTIE: ABSOLUTELY. IT'S MY WIFE'S FAVORITE SHOW. NOW, I KNOW SHE IS WATCHING ME. THE REST OF THE STUFF, MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.
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